Ribbon-dispensing device



RIBBON-DISPENS ING DEVICE Filed Jan. 17. 1959 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to a new and improved ribbon-dispensing device.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple device, whereby the end of a roll of ribbon can be held securely but detachably in position, so as to prevent the ribbon from unrolling, after a portion of the ribbon has been cut off.

Another object is to provide means whereby it will be unnecessary to use pins or other perforating means for holding the end of the ribbon to the roll.

Another object of the invention is to provide extremely simple means which can be applied to a reel or spool, on which a roll of ribbon is wound spirally.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description and .drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the above statement of the objects of my invention is intended generally to explain the same without limiting it in any manner.

Fig. l is a side elevation showing the improved device, part of the representation of the device being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. 1, part of the tacky sleeve being shown partially broken away.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the improved device, partially broken away.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing how the end of the ribbon is held detachably so as to prevent the roll of ribbon from unwinding.

For many years it has been the custom to sell ribbon to department stores and the like, in the form of large rolls of spirally wound ribbon. These rolls had had 50 yards or less of ribbon.

It has been the practice to sell a few yards of a roll to an individual customer. Therefore, after the roll of ribbon was opened initially, and part of said r011 had been out 011, there was nothing to prevent the ribbon from unwinding. This has been a serious nuisance for many years. If the end of the roll of ribbon was pinned in position, it was necessary to perforate the ribbon.

The drawing herein shows a conventional reel r spool I, made of wood or other suitable rigid material, and having an axial opening la. Supplemental end-walls lb are connected to the reel l by means of staples or the like. The end-walls lb are provided with perforations or bores, which are aligned with the bore la. The diameter of each supplemental wall lb is much greater than the diameter of the reel l.

A holding member 2, having radial arms whose inner ends have inwardly-bent legs 4, is made of springy metal. When the holding member 2 is detached from the device and said member has its normal shape, the arms thereof are inclined inwardly. These arms can be sprung apart due to the resilience of the metal, so that the legs 4 can 5 be inserted into the opening la. The radial arms of the member 2 then press the supplemental end-wall lb against the planar end-walls of the reel l. The radial arms of the member 2 therefore assist in maintaining the supplemental endwalls lb in true planar shape. The outer transverse arm of the member 2 is pressed firmly and radially against the circular edges of the supplemental end-walls lb. Said outer transverse arm may be spaced from said circular edges. Said transverse arm therefore extends across the face of the reel.

The tacky sleeve 3 is mounted upon the outer transverse arm of the member 2. This sleeve 3 is made of material which is well known in the trade under the name of Scotch Tape or of any other adhesive material. The material of sleeve 3 is tacky, so that the ribbon R can adhere thereto. However, the ribbon R can be readily detached from the member 3.

The ribbon R and the paper P are wound spirally in the usual manner upon the reel l, between the supplemental end-walls lb.

The reel l and the supplemental end-walls lb' are easily turnable relative to the radial arms of the member 2. However, the radial arms of the member 2 are pressed against the walls lb so as to secure a certain frictional grip thereon, so that there is no relative movement between the members I and 2, unless some force is used.

After a suitable length of the ribbon R and of the paper P have been unwound from the reel, and then cut off, the end of the ribbon R is bent around the tacky member 3, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the ribbon R is held firmly in position relative to the reel. The reel can then be laid aside without any danger of unwinding the ribbon, since the member 2 will not turn relative to the supplemental end-walls lb.

When it is desired to cut more ribbon off the roll, the free end of the ribbon R is detached by a slight pull from the tacky member 3, until said free end abuts the free end of the paper P. Upon holding the member 2 with one hand, the reel can be readily turned with the other hand, so as to unwind more paper and ribbon from the reel. While I can use fastening means other than the tacky member 3, I prefer to use the same because it holds the ribbon detachably in position without perforating or otherwise marring the ribbon.

Whenever I refer to ribbon, I include narrow textile material of any kind and the invention applies generally to any kind of a cloth-dispensing device, irrespective of the width of the ribbon.

The walls lb can be considered as being parts of the reel, since said walls I b are in eiIect extensions of the end-walls of the reel I.

The reel 1 is preferably made of wood or other rigid material and the end wall-members lb are preferably made of cardboard or other relatively bendable material, which can be bent much more easily than the material of the reel l-.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from its spirit.

I claim:

A ribbon dispensing device, comprising a reel having an axial bore, supplemental end-walls connected to the end-walls of said reel, the respective diameters of said supplemental endwalls being greater than the diameters of the end-walls of the reel, said supplemental end-walls also having axial bores therein, the axial bore of said reel and the axial bore of said supplemental end-walls being aligned, a holding member made of resilient material, said holding member having radial arms whose inner ends have inwardlybent legs which are located in the axial openings of the reel and of the supplemental end-walls, said radial arms frictionally gripping said supplemental end-Walls, said radial arms having an outer lateral arm which extends transversely across the edge of the supplemental end-walls, the reel and said supplemental end-walls being turnable relative to said retaining member, the holding member having sufilcient frictional grip on said supplemental end-walls to hold said parts releasably in adjusted position, said lateral arm having a layer of tacky material connected thereto for detachably holding the end-portion of the ribbon.

SIDNEY MEYER. 

